Would I be correct in inferring that the picture seems to indicate that the reason for the name(s) is the ship and events associated with it, when in reality there is a different origin for the name? One linked to the Colonel?

Would I be correct in inferring that the picture seems to indicate that the reason for the name(s) is the ship and events associated with it, when in reality there is a different origin for the name? Yes

Was it the artist's idea to use a picture of HMS Bounty? Or was it the commisioner of the artwork? Is the reason for the choice known? If so, was it because the story of the mutiny is more romantic? Because they have a thing for Mel Gibson?

Did the Colonel come up with the original name? Or was it named for something of his?

Was it the artist's idea to use a picture of HMS Bounty? NoOr was it the commisioner of the artwork? Yes, I would assume as muchIs the reason for the choice known? Not to meIf so, was it because the story of the mutiny is more romantic? Probably because it is more famousBecause they have a thing for Mel Gibson? No, the hanging of the picture predates Mel Gibson

Did the Colonel come up with the original name? NoOr was it named for something of his? Yes

TimWas it the name of his horse? noHis wife? noChild? noHouse? noEstate? noFarm? noUh...bicycle? noPet gila monster (pass the spit)? yeahNo but thanks for the memory!Some organization or other? no

AlizonAs to the linkage - I did some googling and it seems that Colonel May liked to play cricket and he owned a brewery. That is correct on both counts but only adds more grist to the mill

Does the Bounty of your puzzle happen to be the sign of the pub Yes

(I think the relation of the pub to the brewery is obvious, isn't it)? No, oddly enough. Colonel May came from a rich merchant family in Basingstoke who owned the brewery. I am not sure when the Pub was built or if it had any direct relationship with the brewery at the time. There were many pubs in Basingstoke. The Brewery was located in the south of the town in a street that came to be called "May Place". The pub was about half a mile away to the north of the town. There were many other pubs much nearer to the brewery at the time.

And... since I understand the cricket field was renamed as "May's Bounty" - was the name meant as a tribute to the successful entrepreneur May, who probably did a lot for the town of Basingstoke? Well done!

The entire cricket pavillion in Basingstoke was constructed thanks to the generous donation of funds from Colonel John May. Thereafter the Cricket Ground itself came to be called "MAY'S BOUNTY"

Hi JensIs the pub named after the cricket ground, rather than the ship? Yes indeed it is!Is it on the road to the cricket ground? Yeswhich is, therefore, named Bounty Lane? Yes

Jens thanks for supplying the link. I tried to find another photo of the pub but that is the best one. Can you see 2 signs? It is not at all clear in the photo but can you guess what the image is on the sign at the top right.

So, did they name the pub falsely after the ship Bounty, to attract more customers? I do not know how long the pub exists, but there was a film about Bounty in the 80's or so - perhaps they wanted to make use of the wave of popularity of that film?

So the cricket field was named May's Bounty because the May family donated the bulk of the fundage used to construct it (or purchase the land or whatever); over the years it came to be called Bounty Field or whatever in common usage, and those things proximate to the field (roads, pubs etc.) also earned that sobriquet. Some time in the 1950s, however, a new sign was made for the pub depicting the ship HMS Bounty of Mutiny fame, which implies that the origin of the name "Bounty" came from that ship/story rather than as a description of the May family's contribution to the cricket pitch, is that about right?

Colonel John May (born 1837) came from a locally renowned family that made considerable wealth from Brewing beer in Basingstoke, England.

He used much of his own wealth to benefit the residents of Basingstoke. Among other things he purchased land for the town's cricket ground and had a pavillion constructed upon it.

In honour of his gift, the Cricket Ground was named "May's Bounty", after its benefactor and subsequently the road along side became known as "Bounty Road". A Pub was also erected at the corner of the ground and was named "The Bounty" or "Bounty Inn".

In short time the "May" connection has become distant, whilst the name "Bounty" has become most prominent. Around the 1950's the Bounty Inn had a sign hung up with its name and a picture of the famous ship "The Bounty" which completely obscures any link with John May.

"Turn in your grave Colonel May"

This link shows a delightful artists impression of the Cricket Ground. The pavillion is the building to the top right. The Bounty Inn (Pub)immediately outside the ground and is out of the picture being about another 50 yards to the far left Mays Bounty Cricket Ground

The link below shows the Pub in Bounty Road leading away to the right. The ship sign is barely visible in the top right of the pic and the faint white slodge is its sails. The May's Bounty Cricket Ground is directly behind the pub. The Bounty Inn

It occurs to me that there is something sad when the present generation hvae lost the link between the pub and the memory of one of the towns most famous men who has only been dead 85 years. It reminds me of what the wise man wrote, "the rememberance of them has been forgotten"

Ecclesiastes 9:5 and 6 (For the living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all, neither do they anymore have wages, because the remembrance of them has been forgotten. Also, their love and their hate and their jealousy have already perished, and they have no portion anymore to time indefinite in anything that has to be done under the sun.)

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